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It has not been all roses... restaurants are hurting and big employers like Walmart abruptly closed...
One of my friends was very excited... she got a nice raise working in fast food... thing is the daycare she uses had to raise rates as the daycare workers also got a raise... when it was all said and done she just pays more taxes and higher costs and instead of having 6 on a shift they now have 5 doing the work of 6.
Last edited by Ultrarunner; 05-27-2017 at 12:39 AM..
It has not been all roses... restaurants are hurting and big employers like Walmart abruptly closed...
One of my friends was very excited... she got a nice raise working in fast food... thing is the daycare she uses had to raise rates as the daycare workers also got a raise... when it was all said and done she just pays more taxes and higher costs and instead of having 6 on a shift they now have 5 doing the work of 6.
Yeah, no one should get a raise because then the prices of things might go up, is that right? Or is that just those at the bottom of the economic ladder shouldn't get a raise because that forces the cost of things up?
Minimum wages, and wages for many, have been stagnant for years. I don't see in any way that it has prevented the cost of things from going up.
When you realize that getting a good education is the only real way to make it in today's ultra-competitive world, you will do whatever it takes. I have known medical students living out of their cars to save money. A little discomfort in your younger years will likely prevent you from being hungry and uncomfortable the rest of your life.
Sure, but borrowing $50K to get a Woman's Studies degree at a 3rd tier state school is more of a certificate of attendance for the "everybody gets a prize" generation than an actual education an employer might value. An education is supposed to teach critical thought. Unfortunately, a big chunk of college grads lack the motivation and neurons to have received that kind of education.
I mean, for the longest time I can recall, $15/hr was pretty good money, especially for starting out. Heck, it would be too bad for a guy that had been in many fields for 5-8 years.
When did it become some inadequate that it only met the "survival" threshold?
From what I read, a couple of decades ago, $1.50/hr was survival wages. How did it go up tenfold?
In the first place, you have to back a wee bit further for the $1.50. In the second, have you checked rents lately?
I mean, for the longest time I can recall, $15/hr was pretty good money, especially for starting out. Heck, it would be too bad for a guy that had been in many fields for 5-8 years.
When did it become some inadequate that it only met the "survival" threshold?
From what I read, a couple of decades ago, $1.50/hr was survival wages. How did it go up tenfold?
It became inadequate when the price of housing and food went through the roof. $15.00 an hour for a person working 40 hours is only $2,400 a month (see how quick I did that math). In my area you can't rent even a 1 bedroom apartment for less than $1,000 a month and then you have the utilities, perhaps a car payment, car insurance and groceries. Most apartments want to see your rent at 1/3 of your income. At $2,400 a month that would be $720. Unless a single person shared an apartment or was married and their spouse worked, it would be hard to live on $15.00 an hour.
However years ago people didn't expect to make a minimum wage job a career path. Today people at fast food restaurants are expecting to make $15.00 an hour for a job that requires no experience and no skills.
In 1973, when I was 18, the minimum wage was $1.60 an hour so I made $256 a month. I had a car payment (brand new car) of $81.60. I don't remember what my ex-husband made but he worked as a photographer for the local newspaper. We never had luxuries but we lived comfortably for a newlywed couple. Our furnished apartment was $150 a month and our grocery bill was about $25 a week. However we didn't have cell phones, computers and $1000 TV's so we were able to survive on our small salaries. We never had savings but I never felt like we were "poor". Just a typical newlywed couple starting out, similar to many others.
Salaries have not kept up with inflation in most parts of the country. The minimum wage here in Florida is $8.05 an hour. Try living on that if you're not married or sharing the rent/mortgage.
Last edited by chiluvr1228; 05-27-2017 at 07:27 AM..
The people I know earning that kind of money are either living with parents, a significant other, or have a couple of roommates. One man I worked with lives at the local "wino" SRO hotel which rents out dumpy bed bug infested rooms for cash. And you know what? 30 years ago it was the same scenario. Low wages have never been easy to live on.
The only way out of such a situation is education. Either going to college to major in a high rate of return on investment field like computer science, or attending a trade school. I know the local trucking companies are in dire need of help and are willing to train you.
If you aren't willing to invest in yourself and acquire marketable skills you face a lifetime of poverty and destitution.
I mean, for the longest time I can recall, $15/hr was pretty good money, especially for starting out. Heck, it would be too bad for a guy that had been in many fields for 5-8 years.
When did it become some inadequate that it only met the "survival" threshold?
From what I read, a couple of decades ago, $1.50/hr was survival wages. How did it go up tenfold?
When everything we buy became far more expensive than it was 20 years ago. Obviously. Everything gets more expensive. Nothing gets cheaper. Think about it. When did your grocery bill last go down? How about that Amazon Prime membership? Is it less or more than it was five years ago? And what about buying car parts or paying for car repairs? And let's not forget paying to raise your children. Does it cost more or less than it did 20 years ago?
Yeah, no one should get a raise because then the prices of things might go up, is that right? Or is that just those at the bottom of the economic ladder shouldn't get a raise because that forces the cost of things up?
Minimum wages, and wages for many, have been stagnant for years. I don't see in any way that it has prevented the cost of things from going up.
More dollars chasing goods like housing is a significant factor added to the restriction of creating more housing.
There were many years starting out the only time I got a raise is when minimum wage increased... my first real job was at age 12 and all through high school and college I worked a series of minimum wage jobs...
My first well paying job was right after I graduated with my engineering degree....
My point is people put too much on minimum wage as I explained... those I mentioned got a nice bump when minimum went up but it also increased their cost for daycare and the shift which was always 6 employees is now 5 so more was expected.
Where did you get no one should ever get a raise from that?
When everything we buy became far more expensive than it was 20 years ago. Obviously. Everything gets more expensive. Nothing gets cheaper. Think about it. When did your grocery bill last go down? How about that Amazon Prime membership? Is it less or more than it was five years ago? And what about buying car parts or paying for car repairs? And let's not forget paying to raise your children. Does it cost more or less than it did 20 years ago?
Clothing? Electronics? Small appliances?
You're of course broadly right about inflation but it's not an iron rule.
$15 is higher than the real value of minimum wage has ever been, and much higher than the historical average. Which doesn't necessarily mean it is or is not good policy, but inflation has not been that bad.
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In my area you can't rent even a 1 bedroom apartment for less than $1,000 a month and then you have the utilities, perhaps a car payment, car insurance and groceries. Most apartments want to see your rent at 1/3 of your income. At $2,400 a month that would be $720. Unless a single person shared an apartment or was married and their spouse worked, it would be hard to live on $15.00 an hour.
